orangeena

This is my first time growing bananas...

The flower started opening about a week ago and we have about 6 hands of fruit already. They're growing as we would expect and look great.

A few days ago, a new petal opened. 2-3 of the fingers are growing normally, and the rest are staying really small. The next petal opened and those are staying small and not growing at nearly the same rate as the rest of the hands. Any idea what would cause the fruit to suddenly either stop growing or grow considerably slower? Or, is this normal and I'm just impatient? lol

As an aside, curious if we got the correct banana. We bought a blue java locally, but not sure that's what we got? If so, aren't the bananas supposed to have a blueish hue? Or, does that come later as they grow?

TIA!

Spaceag07

It's normal. The larger fingers are the female ovum that develop into edible fruit. The smaller fingers are male. On some banana plant varieties they fall off quickly. Others hang around but never develop.

Chances are if you bought a 'Blue Java' from a store, you got a namwah.

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Currently growing: 3X Gran Nain, 2X Dwarf Brazilian, 2X Blue Java
Wanted: Pitogo, Dwarf Orinoco, Dwarf Namwah

orangeena

Thanks. for the reply. So, is our banana production done, or will there be more female flowers to come as the petals unfurl? (total newbie here!)

We bought this tree from a local banana enthusiast that had about 30 varieties in his back yard. He seemed very genuine and knowledgeable and was well aware of the store-bought banana mislabeling. He told us a couple times, we'd be one of the few with a true ice cream tree. So, I'm hoping we got what we were looking for.... I was just expecting a blueish hue, but again, I'm a total newbie here so not sure if that happens later or not at all.

Backyard Banana Joe

Yes, production is done. That is normal. The blueish hue is immediate when the fruit forms. Me and several others think the term “ ice cream banana” shouldn’t ever be used. The Real Deal blue java is actually blue!!! Check out the wiki (fourth blue bar at the top) and find blue java. The obove mentioned “Namwa” also has a slight blue hue. I grow it. How tall is the plant at the crown? Where the fruit stem comes out of the plant. Cheers!!!!!!

Spaceag07

It's done. New petals will only have male flowers from this point. Some folks say you should cut the flower off once it's a few inches away from the last female hand to help the fruit fill out faster. Others say it doesn't matter. I haven't seen any data either way.

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Currently growing: 3X Gran Nain, 2X Dwarf Brazilian, 2X Blue Java
Wanted: Pitogo, Dwarf Orinoco, Dwarf Namwah

orangeena

The tree is about 11-12 feet tall. The prop holding the flower stem is at about 8.5 feet.





My husband thinks the banana's have blueish hue - I don't see it! lol

I'll check out the wiki. thank you

Akula

I don't know about the color but it does look like a Blue Java based on how the individual bananas connect to the rachis. Looks like they connect individually directly (Blue Java) and not through a common pad (Namwa). Its not a Nawma...I've seen enough of them in my patch to know what they look like but can't give a guarantee on the Blue Java... but it looks like a Blue Java to me! Good luck!

EvaShinQ

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